Fabric or paper reenforcing machine



c. H.'HOWARD ET AL FABRIC 0R PAPER REENFORCING MACHINE Dec. 8, 1925 Original Filed June 24, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 Sheet-Sheet 2 c H HOWARD ET AL FABRIC OR PAPER REENFORCING' MACHINE Dec. 8 1925 Dec. 8, 1925 1.565.009

c. H.- HOWARD ET AL FABRIC OR PAPER ,REENFORCIVNG MACHINE original Filed Ji 24, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 's 1 C. H. HOWARD ET AL FABRIC 0R fAPER REENFORCING MACHINE Dec. 8, 1925- Original Filed June 24 "1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,565,009 PATENT orn-cs.

CHARLES H. HOWARD, OF CLIFTONDALE, AND LEWIS SHARP, OF ATTLEBORO FALLS,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS T PAPER PRODUCTS MACHINE COMPANY, OF BOS- TON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS. 4

FABRIC OR PAPER REENFORCING MACHINE.

Application filed Jnne 24, 1920, Serial No. 391,433. Renewed pgust 14, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES H. HOWARD and LEWIS SHARP, a citizen of the United States and a subject of King George V 6 of Great Britain, respectively, residing at Cliftondale, county of Essex, and Attleboro Falls, county of Bristol, respectively, "State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Fabric onPaper Reenforcingl Machines, of which'the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to. machines for reenforcing fabrics by filaments runninglongitudinally thereof. The filaments to which reference is made may be of various kinds,

but more particularly the present im'ention' has reference to the application of unspun fibres to the-fabric to be reenforced.

Various kinds of unspun fibres may be used but the present invention relates more particularly to means for applying unspun fibres of long staple to the fabric to be,

reenforced, such, for example, as sisal, flax, ramie, hemp, and other forms of fibres, but of course it will be understood that in certain aspects the invention is not limited thereto.

The unspun fibres are usually prepared in roving or sliver form. That is, the fibres are reclaimed from the woody material which naturally adheres to them, or other undesirable foreignsubstance, and are then formed into long untwisted ropings or rovings, or slivers, the terms last mentioned being variously applied, according to either the character of thedibres or the colloquial use.

be used to designate these untwisted ropings of-fibre, and while the term will havemore particularly in v'ie W,such ropings of fibres pf long staple, it is to be understood that in certain aspects of the invention the lengthof the fibres themselves may vary. Indeed,

in some cases, it may be desirable to mix long and short staple fibres for application to the fabric to be reenforced, so that'the term rovin as hereinafter employed, 1s

3 used in its generic sense.

One of the problems presented in apply ing the fibres of rovings to the fabric to be reenforced, is the difficulty experienced in The term roving will hereinafter 1 ever, that by feeding rovings or moving them from a source of supply and then distributing them in sheet form, the fibres, especially of long staple, may be adhesively secured to the surface of the fabric in substantially parallel relation lon it,udinally thereof. To insure that the fibres of roving shall be distributed with substantial equality throughout the width of the fabric or paper to be reenforced, the fibres of the rovings are flattened or made into a sheet-like form, and then the sheet of fibres is attenuated and the fibres adhesively secured to the surface of the fabric or paper in substantial parallelism, and in many cases, while they are under longitudinal pull or tension.

An important feature of the present invention, therefore, consists of means for feeding 80 tion are fed by feeding means and spread out, or distributed into sheet form between the feeding meansand the point of application to the fabric, and either at .or before the time of its application to the fabric, the sheet of fibres is drawn out or attenuated. It has been found in practice that the attenuation of the sheet of unspun fibres may be effectively accomplished by running the paper-feeding means ata higher rate ofspeed'than the rate of delivery OfthB fibres to the fabric, the consequence being that the ends of the fibres which are graspe by the adhesive surface of the paper as I they are fed toward it, will bepulled by the adhesive surface of the paper lengthwise x and drawn out .or pulled from, the associated fibres which have not" yet reached the adhesive surface ofrthe paper, the 'conse quence being that the sheet offibres will be attenuated and the fibres themselves will .1 be laid insubstantial parallelism lon 'tndinally of the fabric .or paper to be reen orced. In-reenforcingfabrics by unspun fibres it is desirable that-the reenforcing unspun ,105 fibres be applied under lengthwise tension;

' so that a force tending to tear or rupture tensioned fibres.

the fabric will be resisted by the taut or Another important feature of the present invention, therefore consists of means for applying the reenforcing unspun fibres to the fabric or paper under lengthwise tension. This is accomplished by exerting a holding or retarding force upon the unspun fibres as they are drawn forward by and applied to the moving fabric or paper.

' It has been found advisable, though not always essentialin ractice, to draw out or partially attenuate t 1e sheet of fibres before the sheet is presented to the fabric or paper to be reenforced; and to then exert a retarding or holding force upon the fibres to tension them as they are drawn forwardly from the associated fibres-by the paper to which" they are adhesively secured. An effective means to this endhas found its" response in a combing device which is preferably placed between the feeding means for the.

rovings, and the point of delivery ofthe fibres to the adhesivesurface of the paper. It may be desirable to move the comb somewhat faster than the feed rolls, and to move the paper-feeding roll's' at a higher rate of speed than the comb, t onsequence, beingthat thesheet of fibres will be attenuated and a substantially uniform parallelism of the fibres be secured as they are adhesively placed 'iipon the fabric-or paper.

lVheiiQfthefibres are delivered to the adhe- 7 sive surface ofnthe fabric or paper to be reenforced, ,is desirable that they be gradually detached from their connection with the comb as they move toward the point of delivery of the fibres to the fabric or paper; and to thisend the-present invention provides means for partially disengaging and then fully disengaging the fibres from the comb as the. comb moves toward the point of delivery of the fibres. The eflfect of this is that the pull of the paper or fabric upon the ends of the fibre, especially where the fibre passes between the nip of two beo consequently, they occupy little transverse space as compared with the space'occupied by the bales or cans or rov' The solution pf this problem has'led to the development of a novel form of means for enabling the feedin means to move the rovings from sources 0 .supply remote therefrom without, atthe same time, attenuating the rovings, drawing them out, or breaking them by the feeding pull thereon. An important feature of the present invention, therefore, consists of roving feeding means and means sources of supply of the rovings to enable the pull or draft upon the rovings to be extended substantially to the source of supply without attenuating the rovings, or drawing them out, or breaking them.

In carrying this feature of the invention into practical effect, the rovings are led between the roving feeding means and the from the source of supply through devices such as idle rolls, which are arranged between the roving feeding means and the sources of supply at less distance apartthan the average length of the fibres composing the rovings. The effect is that the roving feeding means acts upon 'fibres which extend to and slightly-beyond the nip of the first pair of rolls, and consequently pull these fibres longitudinally and rotate the rolls. The adjacent fibres adhering to those that are being pulled, will follow along into the nip of the rotating rolls which there upon cause a 'draft on these fibres which extend back to the next pair .of rolls, and so on, the draft continuing throughout an indefinite series of rolls or other draft-transmitting devices so that the rovings while being fed from the sources of supply remote from thefeeding means, are not drawn out or elongated, or broken Various novel features and new combination of parts will. be hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings which-illustrate one good, practical form or embodiment of the invention, it being understood,of course, that the details may be varied within wide limits, without departing from the true invention, as defined by the claims.

In the drawings lit) Figure 1 is a side elevation-of a machine embodying features of the present invention,

some of the parts being broken away or shown. in section to. illustrate parts beyond; Fig. 2 is a plan view of one good, practical form of means for supplying rovings from sources of supply to the feeding means with-v out elongation or breaking of the rovings;

- Fig. 3 isa side elevation, parts being in section, of the construction shown in Fig. 2 I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective detail with'parts broken away, showing more particularly the roving feeding means, one good manner of forming'the rovings into a sheet,- andthe comb or partial. attenuating means:

Fig. 5 is a detached detail showing one 'of I the comb bars, its combs or teeth, and the means for detaching the fibres from the teeth of the comb- Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a slightlymodified form of the means for forming the rovings into a sheet, and also illustrating the effect upon the sheet of fibres and its attenuation by the comb and the rapidly-moving fabric or paper to which the fibres are delivered.

The present invention will be described more particularly with reference to the reeuforcement of paper or paper strips by the application thereto of the unspun fibres, preferably of long staple, but it will be understood. of course, that the character of the fabric to be reenforced may be varied, and that the adhesive which is applied to the surface of the paper or fabric may be formed of appropriate composition or mixture such as asphaltum.

The machine frame is suitably constructed for supporting the operative parts and comprises the side frames 1 which may be tied together by the usual cross-ties or struts =for bracing the frame. "The fabric or paper which is to be reenforced may be taken from a suitable supply. This may be .of any character, but in the present instance the paper is taken from a roll and moved longitudinally through suitable guiding and directing means as the unspun fibres are delivered thereto. It may some times be desirable to have the fibres enclosed between two or more sheets or strips. of paper, in which case the 'desired number of strips may be appropriately furnished from suitable supplying and guiding means.

In the present instance of the invention, the A machine frame comprises end supports 2 on which are suitably mounted the paper rolls 3 and 4 from which the paper to be reehforccd is drawn. The paper from the roll 3 passes ovcrthc guide rolls 5 and 6 mounted in suitable supports-and then between the rolls 7 and- 8, the latter of which dips intov a tank 9 which extends trans versely of the paper and contains an ad- In the present instance, the adhesive is. black asphaltum which is prefer ably kept 'in a heated condition by suitable circulating pipes for steam or other media.

As the-paper'strip from the roll 3, which will be identified as the paperstrip a passes between the rolls 7 and 8, a coa-ting of adhesive or as haltum is applied to one surface thereo and then the paper strip (1,

passes about the paper feed roll 1O, which is mounted in a column 11 rising fromthe machine frame.- The paper feed roll 10 may be appropriately driven from any-suitable source of power, as by belt ng connection with an overhead or line shaft. Vhere a second stripof paper isto overlie the I first strip, such as the stripof fabric or paper I), it is passed'about a guide roll 12 conveniently supported by the columns 11. one at each side of the machine, and then boxes carried by the feedrolls.

the paper strip Z) passes downwardly as indicated by the arrows, beneath a feed roll 13, where it is placed upon the adhesive surface of the strip a, as will presently appear. The feed rolls 10 and 13 rotate in a direction indicated by the arrows, and after the two strips (1. and b have been drawn together between the nip of the rolls 10 and 13, where the reenforcing fibres are applied, as will presently appear, the two paper strips now joined together with the fibres adhesively secured between them pass around a-roll 14 mounted in the columns 11. The rolls 1O, 13 and 1-1, may be geared together if desired, and one of them may be driven from an overhead liue shaft by suitable means such as the belt 15. The gearing connection between the rows 10, 13 and 14 is indicated in Fig. 1, but, being well understood, the manner of transmitting motion between the rows associated, as hereindescribed, its further illustration herein is not deemed necessary.

together into a proper biting or nipping relation by a hand-wheel 16, which is connected to a screw 17'threaded into suitable This mannor of forcing the rolls into a biting or gripping relation is well understood in the art, and; there is nothing new therein 'so that the details of this feature of the present -mechanism are not further disclosed, because it is well understood in the art.

The two paper strips having been brought together at the nip of the feed rolls 10 and p 13, and thestrips having been reenforced by the application of fibresadhesivcly se- V cured thereto, the new composite strip 0, Fig. l, is moved in thedirection of the arrow, and wound upona suitable roll 18-., The roll 18 may be variously located and ham appropriate means for connecting and disconnecting it with its supports so that when loaded, it may be conveniently removed, and another roll substituted. The roll 18 is driven zit-appropriate speed for taking up the composite fabric as it is produced. I

The means thus. far described in detail pertains more particularly to the fabric or paper feeding-mechanism and the means for applying an adhesive to one surfaceof one of the strips of fabricor paper, and

winding the composite .strip upon the receiving 1'0ll.- It is now. appropriate to de-" scribe the n'ieans for feeding and applying the reenforcing filaments or unspun fibres to the fabric.

Mounted either upon the main machine frame or a separate support provided there-'' for is the roving feeding or moving means,

In the present instance of the invention, the

rolls which are preferably fluted and are feeding means for the roving consists of two.

driven in appropriate direction for feeding rovings therebetween and delivering them for application to the fabric or paper. In the present instance of the invention, the

5 feeding means consists of the lower fluted feed roll 19, appropriately supported in a bearing 20 and having in driving connection therewith the sprocket wheel 21. The upper fluted feedroll 22 is preferably carried in a bearing mounted'in a box 23, whereby the upper fluted feed roll may be adjusted toward and from the lower feed roll 19 by means such as a hand-wheel 24 connected to the threaded adjusting stem 25, substantially as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4. By manipulation of the hand-wheel 24, the bearing box 26 (one at each side of the machine) may be adjusted to vary the relation between the upper and lower fluted feed rolls 22 and 19 to accommodate the, character of fibres or rovings to befed thereby.

The roving feedingmeans may be driven from any suitable source of power, and in the present instance of the invention the sprocket wheel 21 is actuated by a sprocket chain 27, Figs. 1 and 4, which is driven from a sprocket wheel 28 secured to the transverse shaft 29, Fig. '4. The shaft 29 has secured thereto the worm wheel 30, Fig. 4, which is engaged by a. worm 31 carried by a shaft 32 appropriatelysupported by the bracket 33 adjacent the: Wormand driven from suitable power-actuated means. In r the present instance the worm shaft 32 ex- 5 tends upwardly from the bracket 33 and has a bearing in an overhead hanger 34. At its upper end the worm shaft 32 has a belt'pulley 35 which is'driven by a belt 36leading from a line shaft pulley 37."

ing the roving feeding means constitutes a good, practical form of mechanism, but of course it is to be understood that the present invention is not restricted to the means described, but. that other appropriate means may beemployed fordriving the roving feeding meansQ- Where the fibres which are tobe applied as reenforcing filaments to, the fabric are hereinbefore referred to, they are led to the feeding means fro a source of supply. more or less remote; i nce the rovin s are untwisted, they are liable to be. rawn out lengthwisejand broken by' the pull of the roving feeding means. The present invention, therefore, provides means for transmitting the draft of ,the roving feeding means to the rovings at intervals from the roving feedin means to the source of supply, and the raft-transmitting devices are arranged a distance-apart not greater than the length of the longest fibres and preferably at a distance apart substantially equal "to the average .length of the fibres. The

, The means thus far described for operat supplied in "the form of rovings, such as invention, and as-a good, practical form of this feature, the draft transmitting means consists of idle rolls, preferably arranged in pairs, and between each pair the rovings are passed so that as the draft upon the long fibres rotates any pair of rolls, its movement transmits to the next adjacent pair I of rolls toward the source of supply, a rotating movement which in turn, is transmitted through the fibres extending between that pair of rolls and the next toward the source of supply through the entire series, such that-the rovings are not drawn right out or attenuated or broken by the pull of the rovingfeeding means. 'Inthe'present instance of the invention, the rovings are taken from cans or receptacles and passed upwardly through a roving-supporting table and between pairs of idle rolls at distances apart less than the average length of the fibres; but it is to be understood with respect to this feature of the invention that while the construction shown and presently tobe described constitutes a good, practical form of this feature, as a matter of fact, the rovings mi ht be taken directly from the bales and t 1e bales might belocated in any convenient position, even on the floor above,

so long as the draft-transmitting means such as the idle rolls, hereinbefore generally descrihed, are arranged to bear upon the rovings at distances apart not greater than the average length of the fibres constituting the rovings.

As indicated in Fig. 1, the firstpair of draft-transmitting rolls 38, 39, are at a distance from the fluted drawings rolls 19 and 20 which. constitute the roving feeding means less than the average length of the fibres composing the rovings. pair of rolls, which are indicated at 40, Figs. 2 and 3,'are located a distance from the rolls 38, 39less than the average length The second of the fibres composing the rovings; and so with thedraft-transmittingrolls 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, each pair of draft-transmitting rolls is located a distance from the adjacentrolls less than the length 'of the average fibresv compos ng the rov ings.

The draft-transmitting rolls are arranged to press upon or rest 'upon the rovings, and

' nip the rovings between the bite'of the rolls.

In the present instance the weight of; the

upper one of each pair of draft-transmitting rolls is utilized to effect the nip or bite of the rolls upon the rovings. To effect this I the upper roll 40, for instance, Fig. 3, 'is

mounted in slotted bearings 46 which permit the roll 40 to rest by its weight upon the rovings and at the same time to 'yield upwardly to varying thicknesses of rovings.

Theother rollsof the series may be similarly mounted .or they may be'moun'tedin any suitable manner for causing the rolls or draft-transmitting devices to bite or nip upon the rovings at intervals not greater than the length of the longest fibres constituting the rovings.

The draft-transmitting rolls extend transversely of a table 47 in the present instance of the invention, and below the table are a v series of cans or receptacles 48 1n which the 1 47 are arranged to gradually be nearer the side of the table as they approach the rev- The consequence is that ing feeding means. by leading the rovings through appropriate openings 49 in the table, commencing at the centre as indicated in Fig. 2, a suflicient number of rovings may be arranged side b side for presentation to and draft by the roving feeding means in accordance with the width of the paper to be reenforced.

\Vhen narrower paper is to be reenforced,

the rovings nearer the edge portions of the table or those more remote from the ccntre of the roving are omitted; and conversely,

when Wider paper is to be reenforced, addi-' tional rovings are added toward the sides of the table.

The table may have its top surface marked appropriately 'to designate the width of the fabric which is t0. be reenforced, and correspondingly, the guide holes or guides 49 for the rovings may be appropriatefy designated to indicate the width of the fabric that is being reenforced when said holes have rovings leading "therethrough. r- I The construction described may be varied. The table and the gliding means for the roving or holes 49 and the draft-transmit. ting devices may be changed to suit conditions of use, and indeed, it may not always be necessary to employ the table 47 so long as the draft-transmitting devices or rolls 4-0 which transmit the draft of the feeding means throughout the length of the rovings to the sources of supply, prevent the rovings from being elongated or broken between the feeding means and source of supply.

The rovings 50 pass between the nip of the feeding rolls 19 and 22, and are fiattened somewhat; but itis preferable before applying the fibres of the rovingsto the fab-- ric to be reenforced, to spread the rovings out or distribute the fibres into a sheet form. This may be done in various ways, and the mannerof accomplishing the sheet formation of the rovings after passing through thefeeding means, is indicated in Fig; 1, wherein the upright 51 of the machine frame has connected thereto a sheetforming or spreading bar 52. The sheetforming or spreading bar 52 is preferably located above the roving feeding means so that the forming sheet may be clearly with in the view of the workman, and the edges 53 of the sheet-forming bar arev rounded so as to offer frictional resistance to the travel of the fibres. After passing through or between the feeding rolls 19 and 22, the rovings now slightly spread out by the pressure of the rolls upon them, are led upward- 1y over the sheet-forming or spreading bar 52, as indicated by Figs. 1 and 4, where the fibres will become spread out and distributed laterally into sheet formation, although relatively too thick and massive for application to the fabric or paper to be reen-.

forced. v

In some cases, after the fibres have been distributed into sheet formation, as hereinbefore described, they may be passed to the nip between the fabric or paper feeding rolls which are preferably 'driven atmuch higher speed than the roving feeding rolls, the consequence being that the sheet. of fibre will be attenuated and the fibres will be laidface of the fabrioor'paper at the point of application thereof which, in the present invention, is shown as at the nip between the rolls 10 and 13.

The length of the flpath the fibres travel in passing from the uted feed rolls 19, 22 to the paper feeding rolls 10, 13..shou1d be greater than the longest fibres fed to. the' machine. I, This is desirable, because the fibres cannot be readily pulled forward and attenuated by the rolls 10, 13, or by the combs until the rear ends of the fibres have been released by the fluted rolls. The

length of the path'the fibres travel can be made as great as desired irrespective of the distance between the fluted rolls 10, 13 and paper rolls 19, 22, by advancing, the fibres over a tortuous or indirect path. The spreading bar 52 serves satisfactorily to increase the length of the path. of the fibres the desired amount, as 'will be apparent from Fig. l, and due to this construction a compact machine is obtainedwith a result- 7 ing economy of floor space.

Between the roving feeding means and the point of delivery of the fibres, is a combing device, thefunction of which is to carry the sheetof fibres toward the point of delivery and preferably at'a somewhat higher rate of speed than the speed of the roving feeding means, and to: deliver the fibres to the fabric or paper to be eenforced. A further function of the co b is to exert a Y retarding effect upon .Ithe forward movement of the fibres after they engage the adhesive surface of the fabric .or paper so as to cause the fibres to be brought out and the sheet to be further attenuated in order that the proper number of fibres may be laid upon the fabric or sheet in substantially parallel relation under some longitudinal tension.

Mounted in suitable bearings 54 secured to the machine frame, is the comb.

' shaft 55 which carries at each end portion feeding means is the sprocket wheel 57,

thereofja sprocket wheel 56. Mounted on the shaft 29 adjacent the. fabric or paper one at each end portion of the shaft, as. in-

dicated in Fig. 4. Extending between the sprocket wheels 56 and 57 on the respective s afts 55 and 29, is the combing device which, in the present instance of the invention, consists of a series of links preferably in the form of a sprocket chain 58 which comb bars 59. are preferably secured to link I passes around the two sprockets 56 and 57,

one of such chains being at each side of the machine. The sprocket chain 58 carries a series of comb bars 59, one 'of which is shown detached in Fig. 5. The comb bars 59 may be secured to the links of the sprocket chain 58 by any suitable means, as

for instance, the bolts 60, one at either end of the comb bars. As shown in Fig. 4, the

members 61 extending between the pivots 62 of adjoininglinks of the sprocket. To

prevent sagging of thesprocket chain 58.

between the sprocket wheels 56 and 57, 'a

' trackway 63 is provided, over'the topportion of which may run the'rolls 64 carried by the sprocket chain.

The comb bars 59 carry a series of teeth or pins which enter the sheet of fibres "delivered from the roving feeding means and serve to' move the sheet of fibres toward the point of delivery. In the present instance the teeth or pins 65 are conveniently mounted in a metal bar 66'which maybe se cured to the respective -comb bars59 by suitable means such as the screws 67. The

teeth or pins 65 may be .arranged in more than one row, if desired, and in the present instance of the invention are shown' as formedin two rows. From the construction described it will be "apparent that the comb bars travel with the endless carrier in the,

- and failureto lay endless path prescribed by it, which for urposes of identification inthe claims will be referred to as an orbital path.

The sheet of fibres, whi h may, nated as F, maybe confined to the desired lateral spread by means of guides 68, which may be secured adjustably to a supporting bar 69 extending transversely of the machine and secured b appropriate brackets 70 to the machine rame, the construction being such that the width of the sheet of fibres maybe made to conform to the width of the fabric or paper to be reenforced.

The sheet of fibres F is guided to the combing device by means of a guide roll 7] Figs. 1 and 4. which maybe conveniently supported for idle rotative movement in brackets 72, secured, one at each side of the machine frame. The position ofthe guiding rolls 71 is such that as the teeth or be desigpins 65 of the comb rise from the lower run of the sprocket chain, they may enter the sheet of fibres and take control. thereof and move it toward delivering osition.

The position of the sha 29 is such that the'fibresbeing moved toward the delivery position, will extend into the bitebetween the fabric or paper feed rolls 10 and 13, which are preferably driven at a higher surface speed than is the comb, the effect being that as the fibres come in contact with the adhesive surface of the fabric or paper which is moving rapidly as compared with the movement of the comb,the sheet of fibres will be further attenuated, the pins or teeth of the comb will retard the pull upon the fibres by the fabric or paper, and cause them to be laid in substantially parallel relation longitudinally of the fabric or paper.

It may sometimes happen that the hold of the teeth or pins 65 upon the sheet ,of fibre would be too energetic at the moment of delivery of the fibres to the fabric or paper, and it may be desirable at times, therefore, to rovide for the release of the fib'res from t e comb after the sheet has good form of such device is shown as comprising lifter bars or 'doifers 73, one of which 1s carried by or preferably associated l with each of the comb bars 59 as illustrated in Fig. 5. As shown in Fig; 5, the lifter bars 73 are provided'with slots 74 through which extend the guiding studs or screws lOO 75, the construction being such that under the impulse of gravity, the lifter bars 73 will drop to their low position as indicated in Fig. 5, when the comb bars are travelling along the upper run of the comb; and when the comb bars reach the fiber-delivering position, means are provided for lifting'thc lifter bars or doffers 73 in succession to detach the fibres from the pins or teeth ()5 of the comb. In ,the present instance of the invention, the shaft 29 has mounted thereon the lifter cams 76, one adjacent each end portion of the shaft 29. The cams 76 have the risers I? which are timed with respect to the travel of the comb bars such that as the comb bars passabout the axis of the shaft 29, the risers of the lifter, cams engage the lower edge portion of the lifter bars and lift the bars successively to detach the fibres from the teeth or pins (55 of the comb and permit them to pass with less and less retardation to the nip between the fabric or paperfeeding'rolls 10 and 13. The consequence is that the sheet of.fibres which may have been attenuatedto some extent by the comb, is further attenuated and drawn out, and the fibres laid parallel by the pull of the adhesive surface to which the ends of the fibres are applied.

7 It may sometimes be desirable to insure that the lifter bars 73 drop to their lower position as the comb bars riseto pass the teeth or pins into the sheet of fibre; and to this end the present invention contemplates a pair of cam depressors 78, Figs. 1 and 4, one preferably at each side of the machine, which act upon the top surface of the lifter bars 73 and forcibly push them downwardly, if they have not already been lowered under the action'of gravity.

Aswill be not-iced in Fig. 1, the upper run of the comb is preferably inclined somewhat to the path of movement of the fibres from the comb to the nip of the feeding rolls 10 and 13; and since at the time the fibres are engaged by the adhesive surface of the fabric passing between the feed rolls 10 and 13, they are placed under lengthwise tension, or pulled, it may happen at times that they will lift from the pins or teeth of the comb too quickly. To pre-' vent this, the present invention provides a depressor-which consists of a pair of discs 79, one at each side of the machine, and mounted on-a shaft, supported in suitable bearings 81. Extending between the discs are a series of bars 82, Figs. 1 and at, which are spaced apart; and by rotation of the discs which may be effected bythe friction between the sheet of fibres and the bars 82, such bars pass between the rows of pinsor teeth of the comb and insure the hold of the teeth upon the sheet of fibres until the sheet has been sufficiently attenuated and the fibres drawn out under the longitudinal 'pull of the adhesive surface of the fabric or paper.

From the construction thus far described, it'will be seen that unspun fibres are fnoved from a source of supply in the form of rovings by the roving feeding means, and are then spread out into sheet form; that thesheet of fibres is attenuated to a proper degree sheet of fibres by utilizing the movement of the comb itself, relative to the feed of the roving feeding means. That is, the roving feeding means will be actuated at a predetermined speed, the comb may be. actuated at a somewhat faster linear speed, and the fabric or paper feeding rolls may be actuated at a very much higher speed than that of the combing device. I

The above condition is graphically illustrated in the modified form of the invention illustrated by Fig. 6, wherein it will be noted that the rovings 50 emerge from the rolls'22 and 19 in a somewhat flattened andspread condition, thereby forming the fibres into a sheet or substantially sheet form. In the modification, however, instead of passingthe fibres over a spreader as 52 in Fig. 1, they may be fed over a support 83, Fig.1).

This latter construction may be preferable where economy offioor space is not a matter of importance, whereas the construction as indicated in Fig. 1 maybe employed where economy of floor space is of importance. 'In either case, however, the rovings are tfattened out or formed into a substantial sheet form between the roving feeding means and the combing device; and when the combing device is moved at a speed relatively greaterthan the-feeding rolls 22 and 19, the sheetof fibres, as graphically illustrated in Fig. 6, will be attenuated somewhat into the condition indicated at G, where it will. be noted,

the sheet of fibres has been elongated, drawn out, or drafted, as it may be called. \Vhen theattenuated sheetof fibres G pass between the nip of the rolls 10 and 13, the ends of the fibres engage the adhesive surface of the fabric: or paper, which tends to pull them lengthwise at the speed of the paper feed, which is preferably much higher than that of the combing device, sothat the partially-attenuated sheet of fibres G becomes further attenuated, as graphically indicated at .H, and laid substantially parallel longitudinally of'and upon the adhesive surface of the fabric or paper to be reenforced. Of

be reenforced. The ratio of this speed of the rovings and paper, and consequently the attenuation of the sheet of fibres, may be varied, and the output of the machine may be increased almost indefinitely. I

Changes and alterations in the details of construction may be made within the true scope of the invention, as defined by the claims. J 7

\Vhat isclaimed is i 1.- In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a paper strip to be reenforced, means for feeding unspun fibres for application to the paper strip, means for attenuating the un-v spun fibres and :placing them under tension on the paper strip, including a. series .of combs movable in different paths, and means for guiding the upper run of the combs along an oblique path to facilitate the projection of the comb teeth into engagement with the fibres, and withdrawing the teeth therefrom.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a paper strip to be reenforced, means for feeding unspun fibres for application to the paper strip, means for attenuating the unspun fibres and'placing them under tension on the paper strip, including aseries. of

paper strip, and means for'placing the uncombs movable in, different paths, and means for guiding the upper runjof the conibs along a path disposed at anangle to the direction in which thefibres leave thecombs to facilitate the stripping of the fibres from the comb teethf 3.- In a machine of the character described, the combination of rolls for feeding a paper strip tobe reenforced, means for feeding unspun fibres for application to the spun fibres in an attenuated condition on the paper strip, including a series of combs movable along an endless path having an upper and a lower run, and one of said paper feed rolls being positioned near an end of the upper run of the' combs for the passage of the fibres over the 'roll and elevated above the plane of the upper run of the combs'sufiiciently to pull the fibres out of engagement with the comb teeth as the combs approach the end of their upper run.

.5 a 4. In a machine 'of the character described,

the combination of means for feeding a paper strip to be reenforc'ed, means for feeding unspun fibres for application to the paper strip, means for applying the fibres to the paper strip, including a series of combs, a depressor for retaining the fibres in engagement with the teeth ofthe combs, and a dofi'er for disengaging the fibres from the comb teeth.

.5. In a machine of the character described,

the combination of means for feeding a,

paper strip to be reenforced, means for feedingv unspun fibres for application to p the paper strip, and means for applying the fibres to the (paper strip under lengthwise tension, inclu ing a series of combs, dofiing means to disengage the fibres from the teeth of the combs, and rotatable cam means for moving the dofiing means to the dofiing position.

6. In a machine of the character described,

the combination of means for feeding a paper strip to be reenforced, means for feeding unspun fibres for application to the paper strip, and means for applying the fibres to the paper, strip, including a series of combs,

dolfing means to disengage the fibres from the teeth of the combs, cam means for moving the dofiing means to the dofling position, and other cam means" in the path of the dofling means to move'them fiem the doffing position. 4

7. In a machine of the character described,

the combination or rolls for feedin a paper strip to be reenforced, rolls for eedlng a series of rovings of unspun fibres towards ,the paper strip, 'means between the feed rolls for the rovings and paper respectively for attenuating the unspun fibres and applying them in a thin sheet to-the paper strip, and means for advancing the fibres as they leave the feeding rolls, over a substantially greater in, length than the distance between'the' fibre feeding rolls and the attenuating means-to facilitate drawing -out the fibres.

8. In a machine of the character described,

path

the combination of paper feeding means for feeding a paper stripto be reenforced,

fibre feeding means for feeding a sheet of unspun fibres-towards the paperstrip, means between the respective feeding means for attenuating'the unspun fibres and placing them on the paper strip, and means for ad- I vancing the fibres from the fibreffeeding means toward. the paper feeding means over a path substantially greater-in length than. i

the distance between the respective feeding means to facilitate drawing" out the fibres by the attenuating means-- ,9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a paper strip to be "reenforced, means for grippin unspun fibres andfeeding them for application to the paper strip, means A b t,

.means for advancing the fibres as they leave the gripping means over a path substantially greater in length than the distance between the gripping means and the point where the fibres are secured to the paperstrip to promote attenuation of the fibres while passing over said path.

10..In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of means for feedin a a'erstri to be reenforced and means for feeding unspun fibres for application to the paper strip, including an endless car- 'rier having combs thereon for attenuating the fibresand tensioning the same as they are applied to the paper strip. I

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feed ing a paper strip tobe reenforced, means for feeding unspun fibres towards the paper strip, means for attenuating the uuspum fibres and applying them to the paper strip under tension, and a spreader for engaging the fibres and spreading them' into sheet form after leaving the fibre feeding means.

12. In a machine for reenforcing a paper fabric, the combination ofmeans for feeding a paper fabric having an adhesive surface to be reenforced, means for attenuating a sheet of reenforcing filaments and delivering them to the adhesive surface of the paper fabric, and dofling means for detaching the filaments from the attenuating means for delivery to the adhesive surface of the paper fabric. a

13. In a machine for reenforcing a paper fabric, the combination of means for feeding a paper fabric having an adhesive sur-- face to be reenforced, means for attenuating a sheet of reenforcing filaments and delivering them to the adhesive surface of the paper fabric, dofiing means for detaching the filaments from theattenuating means, and automatically-operating means for causing the dofiing means t6 free the filaments and effect delivery thereof to the-paper fabric.

14. In a machine for reenforcing a paper fabric, the combination of means for feed ing a paper fabric to'be reenforced, means for feeding reenforcing filaments for application to the paper fabric, and a spreader positioned to provide a path of travel between the filament feeding means and the paper fabric greater than the length of the individual filaments and adapted to spread the filaments into a sheet for application to the paper fabric. I Y

15. An apparatus of the. character described, comprising, in" combination, means projecting outwardly therefrom, means to I I I I feed said comb carrier along different runs, and a dofling device-for thrusting the fibres from the teeth as the teeth of the comb pass from their upper run to their lower run.

16. An apparatus of' the character described, comprising, in combination, means for feeding fabric to be reenforced, a carrier having aseries of combs mounted thereon, means for feeding sald carrier to cause the tombs progressively to project up,

through a sheet of fibers and to conduct the same toward said fabric, a dotting device for each of said combs, and means automatically to operate said dotting devices to thrustthe fibres from said combs as. they approach, the fabric to be reenforced.

17 An apparatus of the. character described, comprising, in. combination, means for feeding fabric to be reenforced, and means for feeding unspun fibres to said fabric includinga carrier having a series of combs thereon, dotfing devices for said combs, and means for automatically operating the same to doff the fibres. from the combs as the latter approach the fabric.

18. An apparatus of the character described, comprising, in combination, a pair of rolls for feeding fabric to be reenforced, A

a pair of feeding-inrolls for feeding reenf-orciug filaments into the machine, and means to conduct the filaments f1om' said' feed rolls to the fabric including a comb'carrier having a series of combs thereon, dofling bars associated with said combs, and means automatically to elevate said bars relatively to said combs to dofi the filaments therefrom ing rolls and paper fabriogreater than the length of the individual filaments and adapted to even out or spread the filaments into a sheet, and means for attenuating the spread sheet of filaments and delivering the filamentsto the paper fabric. a

20. In a machine for reenforcing a paper fabric, the combination of means for feeding a paper fabric to be reenforced, rolls for feeding reenforcing filaments for application to the paper fabric, a comb device for attenuating the filaments and delivering them to the paper fabric to reenforce the same, and a spreader between the rolls and comb device for spreading the filaments into a sheet.

-scribed,th e combination of means for feeding a fabric to be reenforced by unspun 7 f A v125, 21'. In a machine of the character ole-- spun fibres between the feeding means and source of fibre supply for transmitting the draft or pull of the feeding means,

23. Inv a machine of the character de-v scribed, the combination of means for feeding a fabric to be reenforced, feeding means for moving a series of unspun fibre rovings for application to the fabric, and a plurality. of devlces constructed and arranged to en-' gage the rovings at intervals between the roving feeding means and source of Suppl for distributing the pull of the roving 7 ing means throughout the length of the rovmgs.

24. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means'for feeding a fabric to be reenforced by longitudinally-extending unspun fibres, feeding means for feeding an untwisted ropingof fibre for application of the fibres to the fabric, and rolls constructed and arranged to engage the roping of fibre at intervals of less length than the average length of the fibres between the feeding means and source of roping supply toprevent the roping being elongated or drawn out by the pull of the roping feeding means.

. 25. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a fabric to be reenforced by longitudinally-extending v unspun fibres, feeding means for feeding an untwisted roping of fibre for-application of the fibres to the fabric, rolls constructed and arranged to engage the roping of fibre at intervals of less length than the average length of the fibres between the feeding means and source of roping supply to prevent the roping being elongated ordrawn out by the pull of the roping feeding means, and means between:

the roping feeding.means and fabric feeding means-for laying the roping into substantially sheet form.

' 26. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeda fabric to be reenforced by longitu dinally-extending unspun fibres, feeding means for feeding an untwisted roping of fibre for application of the fibres to the fabric, and rolls constructed and arranged to engage the roping of fibre at intervals of less length than the average length of the fibres between the feeding means and source of roping supply to prevent the roping reenforced.

. 27. In a machine for reenforcing paper,

the combination of paper feeding means for feeding paper to be reenforced, feeding means for feeding reenforcing filaments for application to thepaper, means between the filament feeding means and the source of supply for distributing the draft or pull of the filament feeding means through the filaments to the source of supply, and a spreader for spreading the filaments as they are advanced for application to the paper.

28. In a machine for reenforcing paper, the combination of pa er feeding means, means for pulling reen orcingfilaments in the form of rovings from a source of supply for application to the paper, means between the source of supply and pulling-means for distributing the draft or .pull through the filaments to the source of supply, and means for spreading the rovings of filaments into sheet form for application to'the paper.

. 29. In a machine for reenforcing paper,

the combination of pa er feeding means, means for-pulling reen orcing filaments in the form of rovings from a source of supply for application to the paper means between the source of supply and distributing the draft or pull. through the filaments to the source of supply, and means forspreadin he rovings-into sheet form and attenuatlng the sheet of filaments for application to the pa er to be reenforced.

30. In a machine or reenforcing paper,

the combination of paper feeding means, means for pulling reenforcing filaments'in the form of rovings from a source of supply for ap lication to the paper, means between the source of supply and pulling means for distributing the draft" or pull through the filaments to the source of supply, a spreader for spreading the rovings into a sheet, and

a comb device for attenuating the sheet of pulling means for filaments and delivering it to the paper fabric.

31. In amachine for reenforcing a fabric by unspunfibres, the combination of means for feeding the fabric to be' reenforced, means, for applyin' an adhesive to a surface of the fabrlc, fee g'means for'moving a series of rovings of fibre from a source of supply for application to the surface of thefabric, draft transmitting devices arranged to engage the rovings at intervals between the roving feeding means and the source of roving suppl to prevent the rovings being elongated an broken, and means for-delivering the fibres of the rovings to the adhesive surface of the fabric. v

32. In amachine for reenforcing a fabric by ups un fibres, the combination of means for fee ing the fabric to be reenforced, means for appl ing an adhesive to a surface of the fabric, feeding means for moving a series ofrovings of fibre from'a source of supply for application to the surface of the. fabric,

fdraft-transmitting devices arranged to enpaper, rolls bearing on the rovings of fibre at intervals not, greater than the length 0! the fibres ofithe rovings between the roving feeding means and the source of supply constructed and arranged to transmit the pull of the feeding means longitudinally of the rovings, means for forming the rovings into substantially a sheet of fibres when they are delivered by the roving feeding means and applying the sheet of fibres in attenuated condition longitudinally on the surface of the paper.

34. In' a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a fabric to be reenforced by longitudinally extending,

unspun-- fibres, means for moving a Series thereof to the fabric, rolls which ar upon at intervals of less distance apart the rovings than the ength of the fibres in'the rovings ofirovings from sources of supply for application'o f the nns un fibres out names to this specification,

HOWARD.

between the moving means and the sources of'sup ly and arranged to be rotated by the pull 0? the fibres between consecutive rolls.

35. In a machine for reenforcing paper by the application of unspun-fibres thereto, feed rolls for'feeding the web of aper, a

engage the sheet of unspun fibres and move combing device having pi'nsor teet which.

it toward delivery position, and lifter bars for disengaging the fibres from the his or teeth of the comb when the sheet of bres is sufliciently attenuated;

36. In a. machine for reenforcing paper bythe application of unspun fibres thereto,

feed rolls for feeding the web of paper,-a combing device having pins or teeth which engage the sheet of unspun fibres and move it toward deliveryposition, lifter bars for disengaging the fibres from the pins or teeth of the comb when ,the sheet of fibres is sufliciently attenuated by the pull ofthe paper web, and means for raising the lifter ars.

37. In a machine for reenforcing paper by the application of unspun fibres thereto, feed rolls for feeding the web of aper, a combing device having pins or teet which engage the sheet of unspun fibres and move it toward delivery position, lifter bars? for dis engaging the fibres from the pins .or teeth of the comb when the sheet of fibres is sufliciently attenuated by the pull of the paper web, andmeans for depressing the lifter bars. J

In testimony whereof we have oHAnLEs 4 LEWIS SHARP.

signed 7 

